Fishtown

Fishtown is a collection of weathered fishing shanties, smokehouses, overhanging docks, fish tugs and charter boats along the Leland River in Leland, Michigan. The heart of a commercial fishing village, Fishtown is one of the only places where we can see and feel a connection to the long tradition of Great Lakes maritime culture.

Testimonials

Bob FurhoffInterpreting and conserving historic finishes are not inexpensive skills. Through its challenge grants, the Jeffris Family Foundation has encouraged and enabled smaller museums and historic sites to devote close attention to restoring historically accurate finishes. It has been a pleasure working with a foundation dedicated to quality preservation.

Bob Furhoff

Leah Rosenow, Project ManagerAs a historian and archaeologist, I do not usually encounter a donor or private individual who so obviously respects and encourages academic scholarship as a means to accurately identify and restore the past. It is a pleasure to be working on a project where establishing and maintaining historical integrity is a requirement and not an afterthought.

Steve Woods, Project Administrator and Grant writerWe found working with the Jeffris Foundation to be very easy. They are very hands off the day to day activities, but did provide several useful suggestions that we incorporated into the work plan.

Steve Woods, Project Administrator and Grant writerDinesen House

Gail Caskey Winkler, Decorative Arts ConsultantWisconsin is doubly blessed to have both significant architecture and a homegrown foundation concerned for its preservation and restoration.

Gail Caskey Winkler, Decorative Arts ConsultantLCA Associates

Thomas B. Hanlon, Director, Department, Cemeteries, DioceseWithout the generous offer of a challenge grant by the Jeffris Family Foundation this important local architectural treasure would have been lost.

Thomas B. Hanlon, Director, Department, Cemeteries, DioceseMadison

George Vogt, Former DirectorPreserving Wisconsin’s history requires vision, commitment and investment. It is gratifying to be able to work with a foundation like the Jeffris Family Foundation that values and facilitates community and statewide commitment toward preserving Wisconsin’s history.

George Vogt, Former DirectorWisconsin Historical Society

David J. Brown, Chief Preservation Officer and Executive Vice PresidentThe Jeffris Family Foundation has made an extraordinary commitment to historic preservation. Their capital grants to preservation projects in small towns across the Midwest provide the critical margin that allows high quality restoration efforts to be successful, and their challenge grant strategy inspires others to help fund those projects too.

Tom Jeffris, PresidentI have seen many small organizations and local governments in the Midwest which struggle to support and preserve historic buildings that have given their communities a sense of place. The Jeffris Family Foundation has a commitment to assist dedicated communities with funding opportunities designed to preserve their architectural heritage for future generations.